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Monday, June 13, 2016

Information & Comments About The June 2016 Massacre At The Gay Nightclub In Orlando, Florida

Edited by Azizi Powell

I am more than sad about the mass shooting at Pulse, the gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

I am angry that Florida's gun laws allowed the identified shooter to purchase the weapons of mass destruction that he used.

The United States should be better than this.

Please do all that you can to end the senseless stranglehold that the National Rifle Association (NRA) has on the passage of reasonable gun laws.

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This post is written in support of the LGBTQ community in Florida and LGBTQ communities world wide.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, thanks to the artist featured in the embedded YouTube video, and thanks to the publisher of that video on YouTube.

RIP all those who lost their lives in that massacre and well wishes to the other victims of that massacre.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE June 2016 MASS SHOOTING IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Orlando_nightclub_shooting
"In the early morning of June 12, 2016, a mass shooting occurred at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States. At least 51 people were killed, including the gunman, and 53 others wounded.[5][6]
The attack is the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history, the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in U.S. history, and the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since the September 11 attacks of 2001. The attack was labeled by the Orlando chief of police as an act of domestic terrorism; the shooter pledging allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Islamic State claimed responsibility. The shooter was identified as Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, a 29-year-old U.S. citizen...

Mateen became a person of interest to the FBI during investigations conducted in 2013, when he was interviewed twice and 2014, when he was interviewed once;[a] he was not ultimately deemed a threat during both cases. The 2013 investigation was opened after Mateen made "inflammatory" comments to coworkers and the 2014 investigation was opened after Mateen was linked to Moner Mohammad Abu Salha, a U.S. radical who traveled to Syria and committed a suicide bombing there.

Mateen's father, Seddique Mir Mateen, was quoted as saying that he had seen his son get angry after witnessing a gay couple kiss in front of his family at a festival marketplace in Miami months prior to the attack, which he suggested might be a motivating factor."...
-snip-
ADDED June 13, 2016 - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/orlando-shooting-homophobia_us_575ef408e4b0e4fe514327a0
"Can We Please Stop Pretending This Massacre Wasn’t About Homophobia?
We are done being erased. by JamesMichael Nichols, 06/13/2016
"With less than two days between us and the slaughter of 49 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida — during Pride month, no less — the pain only seems to be getting worse within our community.

But as we begin the process of healing, we must now deal with the non-queer, mainstream public trying to process something that we, as queer people, have always known: people hate us simply for existing as we are in the world.

The reality is we now must face how the media is reporting on this issue — and call it out when they erase the queerness of the victims who suffered in this massacre. And, predictably, many outlets are refusing to center the conversation around exactly what this is: a homophobic, transphobic, racist attack against the LGBT community."...
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COMMENTS ABOUT THE MASS SHOOTING IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA
From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lin-manuel-miranda-acceptance-sonnet_us_575e0486e4b0e39a28adf831
Lin-Manuel Miranda Accepts His Tony By Reading A Sonnet Tribute To Orlando
“Love is love is love is love,” he cried, “cannot be killed or swept aside.”
06/12/2016 09:18 pm ET by Katherine Brooks
" "Not only did Lin-Manuel Miranda win a Tony for Best Original Score for his historic musical “Hamilton,” he opted to accept the award by reciting a heartfelt sonnet.

"Senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day,” he said. “This show is proof that history remembers. We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger. We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer.”
-snip-
A video of Lin-Manuel Miranda reading his sonnet tribute is included in that article.

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From https://www.yahoo.com/news/orlando-shooting-muslim-mans-post-013416304.html "After the Orlando Shooting, a Muslim Man's Post Is Going Viral for the Best Reason" by
Claire Lampen, June 12, 2016
"Hours after a gunman opened fire early Sunday morning on an Orlando, Florida, gay nightclub, leaving at least 50 dead and 53 injured, the city’s blood donation centers were flooded with volunteers.
Among those looking to help was Mahmoud ElAwadi, a self-described “a proud Muslim American” in the midst of a Ramadan fast who wrote about his experience in a Facebook post* that’s gone viral.

ElAwadi described “watching thousands of people” bake in the sun for hours on end in order to donate blood. He was inspired, he said, watching people of all ages come together to help, from the kids handing out fluids and food and sun protection to the war veterans to a Muslim woman in a hijab distributing supplies to those waiting to donate.

That’s what makes this “the greatest nation on Earth,” he wrote.

“Yes together we will stand against hate, terrorism, extremism and racism," ElAwadi wrote. "Yes our blood all look[s] the same so get out there and donate.

"Yes our community in central Florida is heartbroken but let’s put our colors, religions, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political views all aside so we can UNITE against those who are trying to hurt us.”

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From https://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/4nqoh0/pulse_welcomed_me_with_open_arms_and_now_im/
Pulse Welcomed Me With Open Arms And Now Im Devastated self.rupaulsdragrace
Submitted June 12, 2015 by SchoolBoyRealness
"I attended Pulse Nightclub every Monday this year to watch Drag Race. The only night I didn't attend was the night of the finale. To say that I have a special place in my heart for Pulse is an understatement. I was there when Tyra hosted a S9 viewing party. I was there when Kenya hosted an episode. I made so many friends as we watched the show we love at a club we love, one we felt safe in. Many of my friends are unaccounted for, and I can only imagine how many of the staff members are among the 50 dead. Please be safe out there everyone. Cherish your local club that much more. Cherish your queens. Cherish yourself and your loved ones. It can happen anywhere.

Please keep Orlando in your thoughts and prayers."
-snip-
Here are four comments from that blog post (June 12, 2016):
–guavagrl
"My heart is broken into a million pieces. Pulse was a place where not only were you accepted, you were celebrated. Creative hearts and minds flourished here. Pulse was a staple for the lgbt community in Orlando. I pray for all of the victims friends and families. The fact that somebody would bring such terror and violence to such an accepting and loving community is devastating. Some of my favorite memories ever were at Pulse, laughing, drinking, dancing. I can't even believe this has happened."

**
-BenHellaCreme
"I don't know what to say except that my thoughts are with you and that I am so sorry that you're going through this."

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–CauseOfAlarm
"As a straight male, I can't emphasise enough how important it is for other heterosexual individuals to ally with the LGBTQIA community. We need to welcome the community and integrate it in mainstream society, so that everyone knows how sickeningly disgraceful scenarios like this are. It makes me sick that someone could hate so much; the world is too big a place to have any room for such small opinions. I love this community, and I know it's not mine to belong in, but there's so much courage, love, and passion in it, and we really need more of that in the world."

**
-thedragdoctor
"you are all in my thoughts and prayers today- please tell anyone you care about today- how much they mean to you-please do what you can to help the survivors and the victims' families- please speak up and speak loudly when you vote in november- please let love and hope and strength guide your thoughts and actions- my heart is open for you all!"

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SHOWCASE SOUND FILE- Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out

Marin Ljubić. Uploaded on Jan 8, 2010

"I'm Coming Out" is a hit single released by Motown singer Diana Ross in 1980, written and produced by Chic members Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers for her album diana (1980).
-snip-
Information about the song "I'm Coming Out"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_Coming_Out
"Background
In 1979, [Diana] Ross commissioned Chic founders Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards to create material for a new album after taking her daughters to see the band in concert, following the success of Ross's final Ashford & Simpson-composed and produced LP, The Boss. Rodgers got the idea for "I'm Coming Out" after noticing three different drag queens dressed as Diana Ross at a New York club called the GG Barnum Room. The lyrics hold an additional meaning to Ross, as she was leaving Motown Records and "coming out" from under Berry Gordy's thumb.

Chart success and cultural impact
The song was a hit, peaking at number five on the U.S. Pop Singles chart. It is also notable for being the first song usually performed at Ross' performances and concerts since 1980. The song has also been identified as an unofficial gay-pride anthem.

Queer Significance
“I’m Coming Out” still stands as an anthem for the gay community. The way it is perceived and its queer significance is to celebrate who you are. It refers to coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.[2] Queers who had not revealed their sexuality had shut out a part of their identity. Most would find it safer to pretend that they are heterosexual rather than reveal their true sexual orientation. Queer individuals use this phrase to express that their identity is real. It is used over other phrases because it most closely describes the process of coming out from hiding who one is and exposing to the world that they are proud of who they are."...
-snip-
Partial lyrics for "I'm Coming Out"
"I'm coming out
I'm coming
I'm coming out
I'm coming out
I'm coming out

I'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show

There's a new me coming out
And I just had to live
And I wanna give
I'm completely positive
I think this time around
I am gonna do it
Like you never knew it
Ooh, I'll make it through

The time has come for me
To break out of this shell
I have to shout
That I am coming out"...

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I'm an African American mother, grandmother, & retired human services administrator. For more than forty years I have shared adapted West African stories with audiences in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
I have four blogspots: pancocojams, zumalayah, cocojams2, and .Civil Rights Songs. Much of the content of these blogs were previously found on my cocojams and jambalayah cultural websites. I curate all of these blogs on a voluntary basis.
Each of these blogs have the primary goal of raising awareness about cultural aspects of African American culture and of other Black cultures throughout the world, particularly in regards to music & dance traditions.
Viewer comments are welcome on my blogspots.